I had such a good time with this book. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Jill ShaThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had such a good time with this book. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis’s writing so I was eager to dive into this first book in a new series. I went into the book with fairly high expectations and this story lived up to every one of them. I got the heartwarming romance that I had hoped for along with a wonderful cast of characters that came alive on the page.
This book opens with a pretty intense scene. Jane and Levi are on a gondola during a storm when things go wrong and the one in front of theirs falls to the ground. Things don’t look good for the pair and Levi places a call to his mother hoping to talk to her one last time but instead ends up telling her that Jane is his girlfriend just to make her happy. What a great way to start a story! These two bonded right away because of the situation that they survived and I felt like they seemed perfect for each other from the start.
I fell in love with Jane and Levi right away. They both had some issues to deal with and I enjoyed watching each of them work through everything. They had fantastic chemistry together and the only real obstacle to a relationship was their own fear. Add a little fake dating into the mix and I knew that I would get the happily ever after that I craved. The secondary characters were equally wonderful. Jane’s friend Charlotte has been her rock but she had her own issues to deal with. Levi’s family was just a lot of fun. They were not perfect but you could tell that they cared for each other and only wanted the best for Levi. I really appreciated the fact that we were treated to a secondary romance and I loved being able to see both couples find happiness together.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I found this to be a wonderfully written story featuring characters that were easy to fall for. I cannot wait to read more of this amazing author’s work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks....more
I thought that this book was slow, although slow-moving at times. If you have been follThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this book was slow, although slow-moving at times. If you have been following my reviews for very long, you probably already know that I just can’t seem to pass up a good end of the world story so I jumped at the chance to listen to this novella. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of this future world that has been forever impacted by climate change.
Reid lives in a community where everyone works to contribute to the group’s survival. She has just received a letter that she has been accepted to a university which she feels is a huge honor. Her mother is not convinced and thinks that Reid needs to stay and do her part for the community. Living is hard and resources are scarce. Electricity is a thing that only a few remember. Reid and her mother also deal with the challenge of an infection that can not only take but have an influence on their lives.
For the most part, this was a slower character-driven story. I enjoyed spending time in Reid’s head as she works to make the decision that will set the course of her life. She wants to take the chance but she also wants to make her mother happy. There was a little bit of action before the book drew to a close and those scenes really helped to illustrate just how difficult life can be.
I thought that the narrator did a great job with this story. I believe that this is the first time that I have listened to her work but I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up more of her work in the future. I liked her voice and thought that did a great job with the characters.
I would recommend this book to others. This was a wonderful shorter listen set in a very interesting dystopian world. I would not hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from ECW Press via Libro.fm.
Initial Thoughts This was good although a little slow moving at times. Reid lives in the future where the world looks quite different due to climate change. When she receives the opportunity she must decide if she should take it or stay with her mother and the rest of the community who need every hand available. The narration was very well done....more
I liked this book. I am more than willing to try just about any audiobook that featuresThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I liked this book. I am more than willing to try just about any audiobook that features a full cast. I just really enjoy the experience of listening to full cast bring a story to life. As soon as I heard about this book, I was more than ready to give it a listen and I found it to be quite entertaining.
This book explores the disappearance of Zoe Nolan. Writer Evelyn Mitchell is looking into what really happened to Zoe with the hopes of putting everything together for a book. She discusses her progress with her friend Joseph Know who is also a writer. We hear from a lot of key individuals that might hold some information as to what really happened to Zoe all those years earlier. Zoe was a new college student enjoying herself at school but there were some strange things that happened just before she disappeared.
I really think that this story is meant to be experienced in audio. I actually could not imagine reading the back and forth exchanges between the authors or other characters and enjoying them to the same extent that I did in audio. I think that each of the voice actors did a great job in bringing their character and this story to life. I think that the narrators were able to add a lot of excitement and emotion to the story through their narration.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that the mystery of what happened to Zoe was very intriguing and I loved that the story kept me guessing until the very end. I would definitely read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Recorded Books....more
I had a good time with this book! After reading and enjoying the third book in this serThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a good time with this book! After reading and enjoying the third book in this series, To All the Dogs I’ve Loved Before, I was eager to go back and read the first book in this series. This book was just as enjoyable as I had hoped it would be with tons of small-town charm and a whole shelter full of adorable dogs. This was the holiday romance that I didn’t know I needed.
Ally is in Pine Hollow to visit with her grandparents while helping them out with their shelter. When she literally runs into Ben, things don’t go well and that is before he casts the deciding vote to close the shelter. Ben wants to help find homes for all the dogs before the shelter closes just after the holidays so he works with Ally to help feature the dogs in the local newsletter and a few local events. Ben is raising his niece, Astrid, who happens to be determined to have a dog of her own.
I really liked the characters in this book. Ally was easy to like. She was very thoughtful and just wanted to find a place where she felt like she belonged. Ben was determined to be everything he believed his niece needed him to be. He had a very hard time asking anyone for help and tended to shut down anyone who offered. Ben and Ally had fantastic chemistry and I thought that they were very good for each other. There was a lot of growth for both of them over the course of this story. The supporting cast of characters was also a delight and added a lot to the story.
I decided to listen to the audiobook and I thought that Alastair Haynesbridge and Greyson Ash did a great job with the narration. I thought that the voices that they used for each of the characters helped to bring the story to life. I believe that this was the first time that I have listened to either narrator and I would definitely want to listen to more of their work.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a wonderful small-town romance with just the right amount of holiday cheer and enough furry friends to keep things interesting. I cannot wait to read more of this fantastic series.
I received a review copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and purchased a copy of the audiobook....more
I. Loved. This. Book. Loved it! There are very few authors that I will drop everything This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I. Loved. This. Book. Loved it! There are very few authors that I will drop everything that I am doing just to start reading their newest book. Sarah Lyons Fleming is at the top of that list. I have looked for this book several times this year just hoping that it might have become available. So yes, I have eagerly been anticipating the release of this book and I am happy to say that it did not disappoint. It didn’t take long before I was completely hooked by this story. I even considered calling in sick to work just so I could keep reading. I didn’t because I am a responsible adult but I did think about it. I really enjoyed the entire reading experience.
Sarah Lyons Fleming writes the best characters. The absolute best. I have talked to some people who aren’t sure if they should try her books because they “don’t read zombie books”. These books are character-driven stories that just happen to be set in the zombie apocalypse. Yes, there are zombies and some pretty intense scenes but there are also long stretches of the book without any zombie action. I do love the zombies but I am here for the characters.
This book is told from four different points of view: Rose, Craig, Tom, and Clara. The book picks up shortly after the events of the first book and I do feel that this is a series that really does need to be read in order. The characters, along with their friends, are getting by inside the safe zone. The man in charge is not a nice guy but they are dealing with it. I loved the descriptions of their living conditions and I could imagine the challenges of living in a large group setting. Relationships within the group are changing. Some are stressed while others are growing stronger. Danger is just outside the gates and they must face it anytime they need to leave to help get supplies or any other essential activity.
This book had plenty of excitement. There were a few times that I was holding my breath just hoping things would work out for the group. I also really enjoyed seeing how some of the relationships between the characters changed and there were a couple of romances that kept things very interesting. I could totally imagine hanging out with this group and just having a good time but without the zombie apocalypse. Their interactions and the way that they depend on each other just felt completely authentic.
I highly recommend this series. Readers should start at the beginning of the series with World Departed but this is a series that should not be missed. This is a book that I am sure that I will be reading again in the not too distant future as I patiently wait for the next installment in the series.
This was great! This was the first book by Charlie Donlea that I have read but it will This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! This was the first book by Charlie Donlea that I have read but it will not be my last. I was hooked by this book during the first few pages and it just got better and better the more that I read. There were twists and turns on top of twists and turns that really kept my interest level high. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
This book is made up of a lot of different threads and two main points of view. At first, I couldn’t see how any of the different threads could possibly tie together but in the end, everything did. One of the threads takes us into the World Trade Center on 9/11. In today’s world, a lab working to identify all of the remains from 9/11 finds a new match. This new match happens to be a woman who was about to be indicted for murder. Avery, a journalist, wants to look into the story and once she realizes it is tied to a crime, she is determined to get to the bottom of things. Of course, Avery has a few mysteries in her own life to deal with.
I loved the way that this story was able to keep me guessing. I was able to guess a few of the twists but there were quite a few that took me by surprise. I was really curious about what really happened in that murder case from before 9/11. I was also very curious how both Avery and Walt would navigate the issues in their own lives. Avery and Walt were great characters and I liked them more and more as I made my way through this book.
I think that a lot of readers would really enjoy this fast-paced book that keeps the reader guessing. There was a lot going on in this story and I thought that the author pulled everything together very well. I cannot wait to try more of this author’s work soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Twists on top of twists! Just when I thought I had something figured out something else would come up that would leave me doubting absolutely everything. This one was quite the page-turner. ...more
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I bought this book years ago and never got around to rThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I bought this book years ago and never got around to reading it for one reason or another until now. I really shouldn’t have put it off because it really was a good time. I have read a lot of urban fantasy in my life but this is the first time that I remember reading one that included an archeology angle and I must say that I liked it.
Owl was once a promising archeology student but she found something that she should have and was pushed out of the program. Now she earns a living getting antiques to private buyers, often through theft. The vampires are out to get her from a previous incident and now a dragon wants her to find an artifact for him. Her journey will take her from Vegas to Japan then Bali and she will encounter one bad situation after another.
I found this book to be really exciting. There was a lot of action and the story kept me guessing until the very end. Owl was great and I loved the way that she gave her tasks everything she had. Her vampire attacking cat, Captain, added a lot to the story and I really liked the friends that worked to help Owl with her mission. There was even a bit of romance to keep things really interesting.
I would recommend this book to others. I found it to be a really well-done introduction to a very promising series. I cannot wait to read about Owl’s next adventure.
This was a fun and flirty read! The story was pretty tame but I don’t need a lot of heaThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a fun and flirty read! The story was pretty tame but I don’t need a lot of heat to hold my interest. This novella-length romance is part of The Introvert’s Guide series, all stand-alone stories with a few recurring characters. This is a quick listen so things get started pretty quickly and it didn’t take long for me to be hooked. I had a fantastic time with this story.
Piper is not looking to date since she is focusing all of her energy on her business. Her friends didn’t get the message through and the next thing she knows they have talked her into going on a blind date. When she shows up for her date, she realizes it isn’t quite so blind since she has already been out with Maverick, and their previous date got very friendly so she already knows what he has to offer. Maverick is a romance author writing a book that has a main character that is a baker. He needs to learn more about what goes into running a bakery plus a few recipes so Piper may be just the help he needs. As they spend more time together, sparks begin to fly and they realize that there might be something there.
I liked Piper and Maverick a lot and thought that they made a fantastic couple. They had a lot of chemistry together and seemed incredibly comfortable together from the start. It was fun to watch Maverick try to fit in with Piper’s group of friends. I loved the way that Maverick seemed to be willing to take things at whatever speed Piper needed. I found their relationship to be very believable.
Savannah Peachwood and Tim Paige did a fantastic job with the narration. It seemed like we heard more from the female narrator than the male but that is due to how the book was written. I felt like both of the narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life and I like all of the different voices that they used. I do think that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was a fun and flirty read, although rather tame. I liked Piper and Maverick a lot and thought that they made a fantastic couple. It was fun to watch Maverick try to fit in with Piper's group of friends. The pair of narrators did a wonderful job with the story. I found this to be a nice distraction for a few hours. I cannot wait to read more of this author's work in the future....more
This was great! Of course, it’s Ilona Andrews so what do you expect?! I know that I havThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! Of course, it’s Ilona Andrews so what do you expect?! I know that I have read at least one of these stories years ago but decided that I needed to give this book a listen before reading Fated Blades which is due to be published soon. It was a pretty quick listen and I ended up really enjoying it.
Silent Blade was a novella that kicked of this audiobook. I had read this novella years ago but really enjoyed experiencing the story all over again. I liked the characters and understood where they were both coming from. I liked the chemistry between them and had a great time with the story. The second story was Silver Shark and I think that this was my first time with this one. I really felt for Claire and loved how strong she proved to be. I kept waiting for things to blow up and was satisfied by how everything worked out. The short story, A Mere Formality, wrapped up the book. This was a little different than what I expected from this writing pair but it was fun.
Samantha Cook narrated the audiobook. This was my first experience listening to her work and I have to admit that it did take some time to get used to her narration. Of course, that is pretty normal for me anytime I listen to a new to me narrator. I did think that she did a good job with the story and I found her voice to be very pleasant.
I would recommend this book to others. Seriously, the writing pair of Ilona Andrews can do no wrong and I found this collection to be incredibly entertaining....more
This was great! When I saw that the writing pair of Ilona Andrews had a novella coming This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! When I saw that the writing pair of Ilona Andrews had a novella coming out, I knew that I was going to have to read it. I went into the story with incredibly high expectations because I have come to expect great things from this writing pair. I am happy to report that those expectations were met. This book was everything that I had hoped that it would be and I was entertained from the first page until the very end.
Ramona and Matias were fantastic characters and I loved the fact that they were able to work together despite the fact that their families have been enemies for generations. Ramona and Matias are both secare which gives them the ability to use blades and shields from their arms with just a thought. The fighting scenes were rather intense and very exciting in this story. The pair has a lot of chemistry but they don’t act on it since they are both married, at least until they can find their cheating spouses. This story had it all: great characters, action and excitement, and wonderful sci-fi elements.
I would highly recommend this novella to others. It is a longer novella at just over 200 pages but it was still a very fast read. It is the newest installment in the Kinsmen series but would work perfectly fine as a stand-alone story. I cannot wait to read more from this wonderful writing pair!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Montlake via NetGalley....more
You just really can’t go wrong with dragons! I haven’t read too many shifter romances lThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
You just really can’t go wrong with dragons! I haven’t read too many shifter romances lately but I almost always seem to enjoy them when I do pick them up. This was the first book in Inferno Rising series and I am now thinking that there may be more of these books on my tbr very soon. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There was a moment when I worried that the book might not be right for me but things started to click and I was soon swept away by this story.
Kasia has always hidden what she is from the world. She is a phoenix and there are many that would like to possess her for their own gain. Dragons know that whoever she takes as a mate will become the king of all dragons. Brand shows up with plans to take her to the Blood King and proves that he will keep her safe on their journey. I really liked all of the dragon politics in this story and thought that the world-building was incredibly well done. There was plenty of action and excitement to keep things interesting.
I liked the characters in this book quite a bit. Kasia and Brand were great characters and I liked seeing them try to figure out how to navigate the impossible situation that they found themselves in. I loved that we got to see growth in both of these characters over the course of the story. I thought that they had fantastic chemistry with each other and couldn’t help but cheer them on towards their happily ever after. One of my favorite characters in the book was Maul, a hellhound. I love how much this creature added to the story and his dedication to Kasia was touching.
I alternated between the audiobook and print version of this novel and while I wasn’t thrilled by the narrators at the start I did adjust and grew to like what they added to the story. I think that this was the first time that I listened to either Sarah Puckett or Alexandre Steele and I do usually need some time to adjust to new to me narrators. In the end, I felt like they both did a good job with this story and I would listen to more of their work in the future.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance. I found this to be a very enjoyable read with wonderful world-building, fantastic characters, just enough heat, and a lot of excitement. I hope to check out the next book in the series very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Entangled Publishing and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There was a moment when I worried that the book might not be right for me but things started to click and I was soon swept away by this story. Kasia and Brand were great characters and I liked seeing them try to figure out how to navigate the impossible situation that they found themselves in. I loved that we got to see growth in both of these characters over the course of the story. Plus, you really just can't go wrong with dragon shifters. I alternated between the audiobook and print version of this novel and while I wasn't thrilled by the narrators at the start I did adjust and grew to like what they added to the story....more
This was great! I have enjoyed each and every one of the books in the Boston Classics sThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! I have enjoyed each and every one of the books in the Boston Classics series so far. This is the fourth book in the series but it would work perfectly well as a stand-alone. This book brought together so many elements that I love into a delightful story that I didn’t want to put down. I had a fantastic time reading this book.
I must admit that I was a little nervous when I discovered that this book was a secret baby story because those only work for me if certain conditions are met. I had nothing to worry about because this story was executed very well. Bella is a single mom who is focused on taking care of her daughter. She has a more colorful past from her time starring in a soap opera but she tries to stay out of the spotlight these days. She agrees to take on a producer role on a television show because she cannot turn down the paycheck. She never imagines that she will cross paths with Henry. Henry just arrived in town to direct this new show and he is determined to do a good job. He has always thought of the girl he knew years ago before his life took a turn.
I really liked the characters in this book. Bella and Henry were both great people and I thought that the chemistry between them was amazing. Henry was very forgiving which proved just how much of a good guy he is. Throw in an adorable kid, a dog, a bookstore, a couple of cats, and some family drama and I was a happy camper. I liked the 80’s references and enjoyed the few times that the mention of something from that period sent me on a trip down memory lane.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I found this story to be really well-done with a believable second-chance romance and great characters at its core. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from the author....more
Another well-done romance from Melissa Foster! I have been slowly working my way througThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
Another well-done romance from Melissa Foster! I have been slowly working my way through the Love in Bloom series and I was excited to read Savannah’s story. This book was exactly what I have come to expect from this author with a straightforward romance with enough heat to keep things very interesting. This book can definitely be read as a stand-alone but a lot of the characters featured in the earlier books play a pretty big role so reading the series in order would be ideal.
Savannah is the only daughter in the large Braden family. She seems to keep picking the wrong men so she has sworn them off for now and is escaping to a survivor wilderness retreat. Jack runs the survivor camp and notices Savannah right away. Jack has been lost for the past two years since his wife died and has a lot of work to do for himself in order to move on. Savannah may just be what he needs to come alive once again.
Savannah and Jack had a lot of chemistry. They fell for each other pretty quickly but it seemed to work in this story. There were a few things in the story that were kind of unbelievable but I just went with it since it is a fictional story. I did like how they talked about the things that they had been through and were able to support each other as they worked through their issues.
B.J. Harrison continues to do a great job in narrating this series. I decided to speed the narration up to 1.25 x speed which worked perfectly for me. I thought that he did a great job with the various character voices and I liked that he was able to add a lot of emotion to the narration. I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to more of this narrator’s work in the future.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that this was an enjoyable read with just enough heat. I can’t wait to read more of this series!
I received a copy of this audiobook from the author/publicist....more
I had a good time with this book! I am somewhat impressed by the fact that I was able tThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a good time with this book! I am somewhat impressed by the fact that I was able to resist the call of donuts despite being the fact that they were mentioned frequently throughout the story. And I do like donuts! I picked this book up because I was in the mood for something fun and light and this book fit the bill. I found this one to be a very enjoyable book.
Jasmine has always worked at her parent’s donut shop. She started helping out when she was young and now that she is out of college she is there all the time. Her parents are immigrants and have always worked hard and expected a lot of Jasmine and her brother. When it is announced that the rent on the donut shop is going up, Jasmine knows that they need to increase their revenue so she comes up with some new ideas with her brother’s help. When her path crosses with her college crush, Alex, sparks fly right away. But is he too good to be true?
I liked Jasmine a lot. The romance in this book is cute but it is just a small part of Jasmine’s journey in this story. Jasmine grows a lot in this book. She takes a lot of initiative with the donut shop and has some really important conversations with her parents. She also is working to find a job and move on from the donut shop. I did like the romance in the book and thought that Jasmine and Alex made a great pair once they worked through a few things.
Natalie Naudus did a great job with the narration of this book. I thought that she did a great job with these characters and I found her voice to be very pleasant to listen to for long hours at a time. I believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment f the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very well done and entertaining story with fantastic characters. I will be looking out for more books by this talented author.
I received a copy of this audiobook from HarperAudio via Libro.fm.
Initial Thoughts I liked this one quite a bit. The characters were easy to like and the narration was very well done....more
I have been a big fan of this series from the beginning. It has become of the books that I look forward to reading every year. I had no idea that the I have been a big fan of this series from the beginning. It has become of the books that I look forward to reading every year. I had no idea that the series was drawing to a close but as I read I just kept thinking how final everything felt. From what I read on the author’s website, the series may resume again in the future but this is the end for now. This book was just as good as I had hoped that it would be and I am so thankful for the hours of entertainment this series has given me over the years.
This series is one that I do suggest be read in order. Fans of the series will love that they will finally get all the answers they have been waiting for over the course of the series. This book had all of the excitement that I have come to expect from this series. It really seemed like the odds were stacked against Irene and her friends but they always seem to find a way to come out okay in the end. Irene is trying to learn the truth about Alberich, the Library wants her to kill him, and Alberich claims to be ready to sign a truce. To say things are complicated is an understatement and Irene’s task will take her to the very core of the Library.
I loved the characters in this book. It has been great to see this group of characters grow throughout the series. Irene is such a strong character and the bonds that she has formed with her close friends are even stronger. I really liked seeing Irene, Kai, and Vale work together as a team. They all are very good at thinking quickly and can usually find the best way out of a situation. I loved the fact that so many characters that made appearances in previous installments were featured in this book.
I highly recommend this series to others. This is a very exciting addition to an imaginative series filled with fantastic characters. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley....more
This was great! I have really enjoyed this series so far so I was excited to read this This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! I have really enjoyed this series so far so I was excited to read this newest installment. This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book so I do recommend reading this series in order. I found this book to be incredibly entertaining and I love the historical detail and the wonderful characters at the heart of this story.
Liam was left in an uncertain situation at the end of the last book and Xanthe is desperate to do whatever it takes to get him back. She starts looking for something that will call her to him wherever in time Mistress Flyte has taken him. She finds three items and must decide which one will be the one she needs. Her choice leads her to meet some really interesting characters that end up playing a huge role in the story. She soon learns that there are some very serious things that she cannot ignore and it will test her abilities greatly.
The characters in this book were wonderful! Xanthe has embraced her role as a spinner and is doing everything in her power to do good. Liam was very understanding and I love the fact that he is willing to put himself in danger if that is what is required of him. I love the fact that Harley got to play a larger role in this book and hope to see that again in future installments. It was great meeting Elizabeth who I understand is a character from Brackston’s previous novels and I loved what she added to this story.
The mystery in this story kept me guessing. I had no idea how Xanthe and the rest of her group would pull off everything that they needed to do but I was excited to go along for the ride. There were some pretty big developments that should have a big impact on the series moving forward. I found this book to be very entertaining with a lot of excitement. The historical details also added a lot to the story.
I would recommend this series to others. It is an incredibly well-done take on moving through time with characters that are easy to care about. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work.
I received a review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press....more
This was fantastic! I am a huge fan of this series and have been from the start. I lookThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! I am a huge fan of this series and have been from the start. I look forward to each installment in this series and had pretty high expectations for this book. I was not disappointed. I have loved watching the characters and their relationships grow and change over the course of the series. I was entertained by this story from the very first page and was hooked until the very end.
Just when I thought that this series could no longer surprise me….BAM! These books just keep getting better and better. Veronica and Stoker are great together and I love seeing them work to solve a case. This case was particularly interesting because it is connected to Veronica’s past. One of Veronica’s old friends is seemingly back from the dead and she is asked to check it out to see if his claim is legitimate. Plus Stoker has the opportunity to get his hands on a specimen that he is very eager to have.
The mystery kept me guessing until the end and there was plenty of action and excitement to keep things interesting. Some of the characters introduced in this installment were wonderful while others left me shaking my head. There were fewer scenes focused on Veronica and Stoker’s relationship and I have to admit that I missed those swoon-worthy moments I have come to expect. There were some developments that left me completely shocked and I do wonder where the series will go from here.
I would recommend this series to others. This is the seventh book in the Veronica Speedwell series and I would recommend reading the series in order if at all possible. I found this book to be a solid page-turner and I am very eager to see what happens next to this wonderful cast of characters.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Just when I thought that this series could no longer surprise me....BAM! These books just keep getting better and better. Veronica and Stoker are great together and I love seeing them work to solve a case. This book had a lot of action and excitement to keep things interesting. After that ending, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. ...more
I found this to be a well-done romance. I liked the characters right away and wanted toThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I found this to be a well-done romance. I liked the characters right away and wanted to see things work out for them. This book was a pretty quick read for me and I was hooked very early on in the story. I thought that the story tackled a lot of interesting things including dealing with a family member with Alzheimer’s needing nursing home care and a large and sometimes demanding Filipino family. I am so glad that I decided to pick this book up.
Claire visits with her grandmother daily and works in a local bookstore. Her family is a big part of her life and they can sometimes be quite demanding. She also runs a cookie decorating business which is her passion. She meets Nate when she almost hits him with her car and she has no idea who he is. It turns out that he is a well-known businessman who happens to be incredibly wealthy. He is taken with Claire right away and I loved seeing these two get to know each other.
I loved Nate. He might have been a little too perfect at times but he was the highlight of this story for me. I liked Claire to a point but she did drive me crazy at times. I understand being insecure but her inability to stand up for herself and always do what her family wanted her to do drove me crazy after a while. The parts of the story that were focused on Claire and Nate’s relationship were the strongest parts of the story but I was less impressed those focused solely on Claire.
I would recommend this book to others. I found it to be a rather enjoyable read with an interesting cast of characters and a wonderful romance. I would not hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Entangled: Amara via NetGalley....more
This was a fun romance! I was really surprised by just how much I enjoyed listening to This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a fun romance! I was really surprised by just how much I enjoyed listening to this book. London and Oliver were wonderful characters and the narrators did an amazing job in bringing this story to life. Once I started listening, I didn’t want to stop and couldn’t wait to see this pair work things out. This was a very entertaining story!
This is the second book in The Introvert’s Guide series and even though the characters may appear in other books in the series it works as a stand-alone. I liked London right away. She is the single mom of a six-year-old boy and doesn’t have a lot of time left for dating with her son, work, and taking care of the household. Oliver is a soccer, or as he would say football, coach. London’s son, Leo, is on one of his teams and he has definitely noticed London.
I really liked London and Oliver as a couple. Their relationship develops rather slowly throughout the story and it is actually a lot tamer than I expected. I really liked the way that they both put Leo first and how much fun the three had together. There really weren’t a lot of obstacles to their relationship but I had fun going along for the ride while they figured it out.
Avery Reid and Will Watt did a great job with the narration of this story. I really was especially partial to the accent that Will Watt used for Oliver. I thought that they both did a great job bringing the characters to life. I loved the emotion that they were able to show through their narration. I believe that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a fun shorter romance with characters that were easy to fall for. I definitely plan to read more of this series soon!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was fun! I really enjoyed this quick romance. It was a pretty tame romance which surprised me a bit but I thought it felt true to the characters. The narrators did a fabulous job with the narration which added to my enjoyment of the story....more
I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I have already listened to it twice! I adored AliThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this audiobook so much that I have already listened to it twice! I adored Alix E. Harrow’s first book, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, so I was eager to give her newest offering a try even though I don’t usually rush to pick up fairy tale retellings. This was such a fantastic twist on Sleeping Beauty’s tale and the characters were utterly amazing. I found this story to be entertaining and thought-provoking from beginning to end.
Zinnia Gray is turning twenty-one at the opening of the story. That wouldn’t be such a big deal except for the fact that Zinnia has a rare disorder that will most likely kill her before she makes it to her next birthday. Her best friend, Charm, decides to throw her a Sleeping Beauty party complete with a spinning wheel. When Zinnia pricks her finger on the spindle, she is thrust into another world where Sleeping Beauty’s life is as desperate as her own.
I loved the characters in this book. Zinnia was such a strong character. Her life has had a lot of challenges but I felt like her outlook was as positive as could be expected. I love that she wanted to help Primrose change her life and was able to rally others to make that happen. I felt like Zinnia showed a lot of growth during this story by learning to fight for herself and others. I also thought that the supporting characters were all expertly crafted, likable, and added a lot to the story.
Amy Landon did a wonderful job with the narration of this book. I loved the way that she was able to bring Zinnia’s character to life. She added a lot of excitement and emotion to the story. This was just a really great listen!
I would highly recommend this story to others. The writing was superb and I really liked the modern elements brought into the tale. I thought that the multi-verse was well done and I liked what it brought to the story. I will definitely be reading more of Alix E. Harrow’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was fantastic! It was so easy to slip into this story and I wanted to see things work out for all the key characters. The narration was fantastic and added to my overall enjoyment. I may bump up my rating to 5 stars after I let it sit for a bit....more
Loading...
